Space your hazelnuts 15 to 18 feet apart. Dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the “J” type root system. Plant 12 above the base of the “J” shaped loop. The most common way to plant hazelnuts is to buy seedlings in a nursery.
These are young trees, usually one to three feet tall. Plant them 20 feet apart in full sun. The first thing to do is to moisten the roots and then create a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the root system. Look for the “J” shaped loop and plant the tree about 12 inches from that base.
The best thing for these large shrubs is relatively loose, well-drained soil that is high in nutrients and at least three feet deep. They can be located in any area of the yard that gets full sun, but remember that they extend both outward and upward. Arranged like a hedge, they should be eight to ten feet apart. Otherwise, any space beyond that is up to you if you grow individually.
They are self-pollinating, so a single tree is sufficient; however, you'll be more successful with your harvest if you have a few trees. Hazelnuts are susceptible to a fungus known as oriental algae blight, which has decimated orchards in the Pacific Northwest. Consider using higher amounts of NPK in your fertilizer when the leaves of the hazelnut bush are yellow or if your growth is slow. Another method of growing hazelnuts is to find a thicket of wild hazelnuts or to have a friend who is willing to share.
While American hazelnuts can self-pollinate, European hazelnuts are self-incompatible, meaning that even though a single plant has male and female flowers, they cannot self-pollinate. If you want a delicious treat, look no further than this delicious recipe for dark chocolate and hazelnut truffles. Although hazelnuts can withstand dry conditions, they work best if you water them regularly with at least 1 inch of water every 10 days. Although it's most famous for its nuts, it's useful to have hazelnuts on the farm for several different reasons.
I was especially excited when I found out that hazelnuts (also known as colbertas) only take three to five years to reach their first harvest. Most hazelnut owners are happy to give seeds as gifts, as they must dig them up to prevent their trees from spreading. One good thing about hazelnuts is that they can be shaped like shrubs or trees, depending on your preferences and the space available. Once in the ground, they will excavate and overwinter, reappearing in spring to lay eggs on hazelnuts.
Like many nut trees, hazelnuts can also be attacked by root rot, powdery mildew, bacterial blight, and cankers. Nitrogen-fixing plants, such as crimson clover or white clover, or plants that attract pollinators and improve the soil, such as comfrey, are good companions for growing hazelnuts. You can prune branches and branches with canker to prevent this disease from killing your hazel trees. Hazelnuts form clusters and flowers in early spring (mid-March in the Midwest, where I live) and don't form leaves until several weeks later.
